NeNe's Little Angels

I Lost My Sunshine!

2011-12-24T09:59:00.000-05:00

My sunshine here in Florida is a little dimmer, now that my second grandchild, and first granddaughter has moved to Arizona with her mommy.

I am very sad over the whole situation, but understand the reasoning behind the move. My daughter will have a better opportunity for personal and professional growth.

It sucks, though, being the NeNe, left behind.

We had Christmas early, for Kasey Belle and Michelle, while they were still here. My husband says that I can now make two trips out to Arizona. One in Spring, for Kasey Belle's birthday and one in the Fall, for Dominik & Kylie's birthdays.

Here, Kasey Belle is posing in front of the gingerbread village I made. She puts her hand on her hip, just like her mommy.

NeNe and Kasey Belle.

Mommy, Michelle, and Kasey belle!

Kasey Belle opening presents.

Jack, helping Kasey Belle open presents!

The big hit of presents was this package!

Jingle Pup!!

Kasey Belle and PeePaw playing with her Dora MegaBlocks.

Hurray, she made Boots climb the ladder!

I'm going to miss my little sunshine, and it's so lonely around here now. I look into her corner of of the living room, where she left some of her toys, and sigh.

But, I'll be making those flight arrangements soon!

--NeNe

LegoLand Adventure

2011-10-17T12:54:00.000-04:00

On a somewhat cloudy day, PeePaw, NeNe, and Kasey Belle traveled to central Florida to check out the new children's attraction, LegoLand. We are AAA members, so we got a "sneak peek" before the park was opened to the general public.

The day started out dry, but quickly turned rainy. Good thing LegoLand was prepared with ponchos for adults and children!

Besides the constant drizzle, and sometimes more, we managed to have a pretty good time. The park is definitely aimed at youngsters, probably age 12 or under. There is one roller coaster that would be adult size, but all the rest of the rides were for children.

Kasey Belle loved the Merry-Go-Round. Wave Hi to PeePaw!!

We roamed around the park, checking out the other rides and characters built out of Lego bricks. The sheer number of Lego bricks used to create this park is staggering.

Kasey Belle met a farmer and a fireman. She was thrilled to see them!

She rode with PeePaw in a jalopy and really kept her eyes on the road. Even when PeePaw was trying to point out where NeNe was to take the picture!

Kasey Belle was a good sport. She even tried out the stockades! Rain and all!

Hi PeePaw! We found some dinosaurs that were very tall and very intricate! NeNe even waved at PeePaw to show how much fun she was having!

At the end of the day, and back home at Mommy's house, Kasey Belle poses with NeNe and PeePaw and shows off her new box of Legos bought at The Big Store in LegoLand. Fun times were had by all.

Kasey Belle was such a good little trooper, even through the rain and the long lines for some of the rides.

Until next time,

--NeNe

Happy Birthday to the Wheelin Family

2011-08-31T10:24:00.000-04:00

I took a quick trip to Tucson, AZ this past weekend. From Friday to Monday. It was to celebrate my granddaughter, Kylie's birthday. She really didn't turn 1 yet. But, since her birthday is November 1st, and my oldest daughter is getting married October 29th in Little Rock, AR, and I'll be there for her wedding, there won't be enough traveling time to get to my granddaughter's big 1 year event.

So, I decided, I'd go to Tucson early, and celebrate her birthday early. Then I got this big idea that I'd celebrate EVERYONE'S birthday at the same time! So it was birthdays for everybody!

My suitcase was so packed full of toys and whatnot, I thought I'd be over the weight limit, but it made it just fine. Of course, my son had put in a request that I bring his old toys with me on this trip. Boys never grow up, you know?

It was hard to tell who the kid was in the picture! I got Dominik two great big tubs of Legos. He and his daddy spent the rest of the afternoon building trucks and helicopters and buildings and all sorts of other things out of them.
They had such a good time.

What fascinated Kylie the most was the balloons! She loved them. Her new toy sat in front of her, but it was the balloons that captured her attention.

Then it was the balloons that captured her! They got caught around her middle and she dragged them along with her as she crawled. What a funny sight! I had to catch it on camera! She sure is a daddy's girl. She headed straight for daddy for help.

Who's ready for cake?

Kylie with her hat on ready for her piece of cake

and Dominik below can't wait for his piece and to get the toys that are on the top!

We managed a grandma and grandbabies photo!

And at the ball game on Sunday night we got a family photo!

It was a fast trip but full of fun and lots of time with the grandbabies. I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to go back again next year! I'm hoping one time soon they can come out to Florida and we can all go to Disney World!

Locks of Love

2011-06-06T15:23:00.000-04:00

There's something about my granddaughter Kasey Belle's hair. It's long, baby fine. And long. It nearly touches her little bum. The last time her mommy cut it was when she was 11 months old.

When it's combed and brushed it looks gorgeous. Some days poor Mommy and Kasey Belle must endure much time and tears until it gets to that point. I love that little munchkin's hair.

When she'd come over to my house, we'd go into my bathroom and she'd stand in front of the mirror and let me brush her hair and put barrettes in it. Cute little butterfly barrettes.

Sigh, her golden locks shine so brightly in the sun. But, alas, no longer are they long and sleek. I am a mournful Nene.

My daughter cut my granddaughter's hair today.

Yep, she did. Without warning me, I think it was better that way, because yes, I'm sure my first reaction would have been, "NO!" But, I can't behave that way.

I have to think about what's best for Kasey Belle and Mommy as well.

And, it's just hair. It'll grow again, right?

So, here's my cutie pie, now. A much more reasonable length. Look at that smile on her face.

It's not so bad, right?

-- NeNe

Easter - Long Distance Style

2011-05-03T08:23:00.000-04:00

My grandchildren, Dominik and Kylie live in Tucson, AZ so I don't get to see them on Easter and must rely on pictures from mommy and daddy. This year, I sent mommy and daddy money and requests to take the young'uns to Build-a-Bear to pick out their Easter presents.

We have the results! Yay!

Here's Dominik. He picked out a Stormtrooper. Daddy says he loves it and from the looks of this picture, I'd say he's right! I'd say that's a happy face on both little boy and little stormtrooper!

Kyle seems to be thinking that her bear is about as big as she is!
But, at least she doesn't look like she's afraid of it. Especially after the day she had. She got immunizations that day! Poor little thing!

And, that leaves us with this lonely little bear.

She sits, all alone, in a corner of my house, waiting for her little girl to come claim her. Little Kasey Belle.

NeNe and Pee Paw were suppose to go to the condo on the Clearwater Beach with Kasey Belle and mommy and daddy, but then daddy got really sick. So that was cancelled. And, since then, daddy hasn't been well enough for mommy to bring Kasey Belle to NeNe's house to color eggs or collect her Easter Bunny. So, it looks like NeNe is going to have to make a trip to Kasey Belle's house before too long. But, NeNe's has been a little sick herself, so hasn't been able to make long trips by herself. Sigh.

We'll figure something out.

So, if anyone has any ideas what to do with two dozen extra eggs, I'd really appreciate it!!

--NeNe

"I YOU"

2011-04-20T12:55:00.000-04:00

Kasey Belle spelled her first "sentence" yesterday. I think she was going for "I Love You" and got as far as "I YOU".

As you can see, the "I" is actually a sideways "H" but she knew the concept and structure. I'm so proud of her!

Even more cute was she used BOGGLE letters!

What a little smartypants!

-- NeNe

And How They've Grown!

2011-04-16T16:07:00.000-04:00

My little munchkins have grown a bit, since they've joined us. Dominik is now four years old. What a sharp tack he is, too!

He loves to play sports, just like his dad. He loved the beach as you can see. His dad got him into playing T-ball. And, he's currently on a Soccer team at home.

The little guy has good form to with his golf swing, just take a peek at this! Is there any sport he's not going to be able to master? Oh, sorry, that's the Grandma in me coming out again. I'll tone it down a bit. :-)

I imagine he'll be following in his daddy's footsteps and playing football when he gets older. I think I have a picture of his daddy in his football uniform around here somewhere... ah, here it is...

Well, his football varsity jacket, and ball. I know I have more pictures, but, this one will do. :-)

Kasey Belle has turned into a gorgeous living doll. Again, my opinion. She's also so precocious and opinionated you would not believe some of the things she does and says for a three year old. She surprises me sometimes, and I thought I heard it all from my three! Especially from my daughter, Amber. Amber was our first so we didn't know how to raise a baby. We raised a "little adult". We didn't talk to her in baby talk, we didn't have other baby friends for her to play with. She started talking at 8 months with full words and was potty trained by 11 months. She was walking before she was potty trained. She was so smart she got to go to Kindergarten at age 4, taking a test to get in early. Total Miss Independence. That's Amber on the right. Such a beautiful girl.

Oh, right, we were talking about my first granddaughter, Kasey Belle.
There's Little Miss Sunshine. All gorgeous as can be. She loves to play outside. Such a Tomboy in someways, but likes to dress fancy and girly at other times. I think I'm her # 1 fan.

Look at the block tower she can build. Here's the start. She started building it and yelled, "NeNe! 'mere!" So, of course, I grab the camera and head in her direction to see what phenom she has begun or more likely some funny trouble! This time, it's the block tower.

Can she get it any taller? Yes, I do believe she can! Ta Da! She was so proud!

Her mommy is very proud of her too. Here's a picture of the two of them. Her mommy's name is Michelle. We took this picture at the Lowery Park Zoo when we went to see the DinoQuest Exhibit. Kasey Belle LOVES dinosaurs! She wasn't too thrilled with the very big, very noisy T-Rex exhibit but, she didn't mind the others so much. While at the Zoo, Kasey Belle got to ride a pony for the first time. She loved it.

My youngest grandbaby is still a baby. Kylie. She's about 5 months old now, going on 6 months very soon. What a darling little baby. She was such a sweet little thing when she was born. I just held her and held her. Never wanted to let her go for the whole time I visited.

Doesn't she have the most luscious hair? She got it from her Mommy, Trish. Don't they look so perfect together?

Now, Kyle and Trish have their boy and girl. I believe they have said that was it for them. I think they make a great family. They're both so devoted to their children. And, they do so much to try and make each other happy.

Everybody say CHEESE!

-- NeNe

Introductions are In Order!

2011-04-13T16:11:00.000-04:00

I have three adorable grandchildren.

Honest. It's true. I wouldn't lie. I took an oath.

Oh, yeah, that was when I became a Marine. Well, the oath still stands. I took another special one when I became a grandma the first time. To this little tyke.

That's Dominik Patrick. My first grandson. Well, my only grandson. So far. But, for the record in the "who's counting here" biz, he's my first grandchild. I love him to pieces.

Great kid. But, then who wouldn't
be with a dad like this, eh? My
son. Kyle. We'll get back to him
a little later. He produces another grandchild later. :-)

My next grandchild is Kasey Belle. My first granddaughter.
I kinda helped raise this little bundle of joy. She stayed with us while her daddy was in the hospital and having brain surgery when she was still a baby. Then her mommy

and daddy moved to Tucson for almost 2 years and I didn't see her on a regular basis. Boy, was I sad! Then they moved back to Florida and I get to so her as much as I can. She's the one who started calling me "NeNe".

My third grandchild (and hopefully not last...) is Kylie Kristin. Named after her daddy. Yup. My son, Kyle Christian. Cute, huh? So is she.

Well, how can you tell there? She's sleeping! But, then all babies are precious and adorable when they're sleeping aren't they? Awwwww.....

Let's see if we can make her smile... Look at that hair! She gets it from her
mommy, Trish. Her mommy has BEAUTIFUL dark hair.

Well, there they are. That was then...

...........